Transandine Railway
The mountain line that linked Buenos Aires with Valparaiso through the highest Andes rail crossing of its day.
Overview
Opened in 1910 after decades of surveys and construction, the route crossed the Andes through the Cumbre tunnel at about 3,200 meters above sea level, linking Argentine broad gauge with Chilean standard gauge across the Mendoza transshipment. It carried the wool, copper and general trade that mule caravans had hauled for centuries, plus passengers riding between the two capitals. Storm damage and difficult economics let through service fade by the mid 1980s. The tunnel and rights of way survive, and revived plans for a modern bi-oceanic crossing periodically resurface as Chile and Argentina eye Asian trade.
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